News
Recent Sightings 23rd Nov 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie on a rising tide. The WeBS counts have resumed this year, with the 2nd count on Sunday past. The wintering birds are returning in numbers to the Lough including good numbers o
24 November 2021
‘Exceptional’ Natural Capital of Ards and North Down recognised
The WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre in Co. Down was selected as one of the locations to host BBC Two’s popular wildlife programme, Autumnwatch. Ards and North Down Deputy Mayor, Councillor Robert Adair, paid tribute to the work of conservation charity
3 November 2021
Castle Espie to host BBC Two's Autumnwatch 2021
WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre has been selected as one of three live locations across the UK to host BBC Two’s popular wildlife programme Autumnwatch. Following on from the huge success of BBC Springwatch earlier this year the watchers will again be
22 October 2021
Winter Migration Festival
It’s one of the most dramatic wildlife events of the year - and the public are being invited to come along and see the action for themselves. A phenomenal 28,000 Brent geese make the gruelling 3,000 mile trek from Arctic Canada to our very own St
20 October 2021
Recent Sightings - 18/10/2021
A great time to see birds at Castle Espie is High Tide. Once the water covers all the mudflats, many birds go to roost to rest, before returning to the mudflats once the tide recedes. Lots of waders gather on the Pier. Ducks, like Teal, prefer to roost on
18 October 2021
Recent Sightings - 11th October 2021
Migrating birds are well and truly here now! Over a thousand Brent are being seen every day and waders numbers are beginning to build; 170 Curlew were seen at one point over the weekend. Golden Plover are being seen with Lapwing out on the estuary too. We
11 October 2021
Recent Sightings 4th October 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. Brent numbers continue to swell and they are the dominant sound on the estuary presently. In addition to the Brent, other geese species including the Gre
5 October 2021
Recent Sightings - 27th September 2021
The Brent are back! Large flocks of Brent are being seen are being seen on a daily a basis out on the estuary. The best time to see them is 2 hour before high tide, when the tide pushes them in close to the shore to feed. At this time, if your quiet you c
28 September 2021
A Portrait with a View
Castle Espie unveils stunning 'Paddy' portrait by Colin Davidson
8 September 2021
Recent Sightings 6th September 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during a rising tide. With the arrival of the first Brent to the shores of Strangford Lough, there is a definite feel that the winter season has started. The change in seasons
7 September 2021
Recent Sightings 30th Aug 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low tide. We still anticipate the imminent arrival of the first Brent to the shores of Strangford Lough, and this annual event is always a significant marker in the year
31 August 2021
Recent Sightings - 23rd August 2021
There was lots of activity this morning from everyone's favourite bejewelled beautiful birds, the Kingfishers. A pair of Kingfisher were seen not once, not twice but three separate times this morning! Darting across the surface of the the Main Lake, the S
23 August 2021
Recent Sightings - 16th August 2021
There are hints of the approaching autumn migration beginning to appear now. Curlew numbers are building on the Lough, the occasional Grey Plover and Lapwing are being seen regularly. Common Sandpiper and Willow Warbler were seen on the Freshwater Lagoon
16 August 2021
Recent Sightings 9th Aug 2021
The following sightings were taken on Monday from the reserve at Castle Espie during low tide. Glimpses of the Kingfisher continue around the reserve and was spotted recently flying around the Main lake and Collection area, uncharacteristically dodging an
10 August 2021
Recent Sightings 2nd Aug 2021
The following sightings were taken yesterday from the reserve at Castle Espie during high tide. A Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher have been seen recently around a number of the lakes and ponds on site and worth taking a closer look to see if these not so
2 August 2021